Georgia Constitution Art. IV Constitutional Boards and Commissions
Here’s an organized summary of Georgia Constitution – Article IV: Constitutional Boards and Commissions, which establishes various constitutional bodies and sets basic rules for their creation, membership, and oversight:
🏛️ Article IV – Constitutional Boards and Commissions
Section I – Public Service Commission
Five commissioners elected by voters to six-year terms
Oversee regulation of utilities
Internal selection of chair by commission membership (law.justia.com, reddit.com, law.georgia.gov)
Section II – State Board of Pardons and Paroles
Five members, appointed by the Governor with Senate confirmation, for seven-year terms
Responsible for executive clemency: pardons, paroles, reprieves, commutations, and disability removals (law.justia.com)
Restrictions:
Death sentences commuted to life can't be pardoned or paroled before 25 years served
Legislature may impose mandatory sentencing exceptions on parole or pardon (law.justia.com)
Section III – State Personnel Board
Five members, also Governor-appointed with Senate approval, for five-year terms
Creates and oversees the merit-based state civil service system
Includes a veterans’ preference policy (5 or 10 extra points based on disability) (en.wikipedia.org)
Section IV – State Transportation Board
Representatives elected from each congressional district, chosen in legislative caucus
Serve five-year terms
Responsible for appointing the Transportation Commissioner and directing the Department of Transportation (law.justia.com, codes.findlaw.com, en.wikipedia.org)
Section V – Veterans Service Board
Seven-member board, Governor-appointed/Senate-confirmed, seven-year terms
Members and the Commissioner must be veterans
Oversees the Department of Veterans Service (law.justia.com)
Section VI – Board of Natural Resources
Includes district-based and at-large members, one from specified coastal counties
Seven-year terms, Governor-appointed with Senate confirmation
Oversees the Department of Natural Resources (law.justia.com, en.wikipedia.org)
Section VII – Common Provisions for All Boards
Qualifications, salaries, and removal procedures are determined by general law, not the Constitution (law.justia.com)
Powers and duties (except for Pardons/Paroles) are also prescribed by statute (law.justia.com)
✅ Key Takeaways
Article IV creates six specific boards with set membership structures and term lengths.
It preserves legislative flexibility by leaving details of compensation, removal, and duties to state law.
Imposes veteran preferences and term consistency across different boards.
Creates a balanced appointment process, mixing voter-elected and gubernatorial-appointed positions with Senate oversight.
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